India's first-of-its-kind Green Forge Complex was inaugurated at BRIC-NABI, Mohali, Punjab, on 31 August 2026 by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh.
The facility uses controlled simulation chambers that vary light, humidity and temperature to test genetically modified crops before field cultivation.
It supports genome and trait engineering research and was opened during the National Conclave on BioE3.
BioE3 stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment, a policy framework that provides for 22 manufacturing hubs and eight specialised biofoundries.
Genome engineering is the deliberate modification of an organism's genetic material. Trait engineering is the downstream goal - developing a specific, useful plant characteristic such as higher yield, drought or salinity tolerance, or resistance to a particular disease. A Green Forge-type facility sits between the laboratory and the open field: the modified plant is grown under artificially controlled light, humidity and temperature so researchers can see how the engineered trait behaves across simulated climates before an open field trial is attempted.
Simple Analogy: It is a wind tunnel for crops - you test the design against many weather conditions indoors before letting it fly.
Foster high-performance biomanufacturing so that biotechnology research is translated into products, technologies and industrial solutions
Key: Approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024; implemented through the Department of Biotechnology
Direct biomanufacturing effort towards national priorities
Key: High-value bio-based chemicals, biopolymers and enzymes; smart proteins and functional foods; precision biotherapeutics; climate-resilient agriculture; carbon capture and utilisation; marine and space research
Give startups, MSMEs and agricultural researchers shared access to advanced facilities
Key: 22 biomanufacturing hubs and eight specialised biofoundries
Research on agricultural and food biotechnology; host of the new Green Forge Complex. Brings together the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute and the Centre of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing under the BRIC umbrella
India's first agri-food biotechnology institute, established on 18 February 2010 in Mohali's Knowledge City
Umbrella body bringing the Department of Biotechnology's autonomous institutes under a single administrative structure
Nodal department for biotechnology policy and funding, including the BioE3 policy
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Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment - the policy framework for high-performance biomanufacturing approved by the Union Cabinet in August 2024
A facility that supports automated biological design, construction and testing
Developing a specific plant characteristic such as yield, stress tolerance or disease resistance using biotechnology tools
Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council, the umbrella body for the Department of Biotechnology's autonomous institutes